PORT HUENEME, Calif., 14 May 2013. U.S. Navy surface warfare experts needed Ethernet circuit cards for the launch sequencer in the Mark 41 Vertical Launching System (VLS). They found their solution from VersaLogic Corp. in Tualatin, Ore.

The Navy is buying the Ethernet cards sole-source from VersaLogic because the company is the only source that can provide this Ethernet interface for the Vertical Launch System, Navy officials say. The value of the contract has yet to be negotiated.

VersaLogic is the original manufacturer of these cards, holds proprietary rights, and is the only source that can provide them in the necessary configurations to support this Weapons System due to form, fit, and functional specifications, officials say.

The missiles are pre-loaded into VLS canisters that are loaded into the individual cells of the launcher, which are fitted to ships in modules that share a common exhaust system.

The VersaLogic EPM-NET-100 Ethernet cards, which are nearing the end of their production phase and are not recommended for new designs, supports 10BaseT and 100 BaseTX high-speed Ethernet, has the 32-pin DiskOnChip 2000, offers the PC/104-Plus PCI interface, has a 12K Ethernet transmit and receive data buffer, and a remote boot Ethernet option.

The Ethernet section, based on the AMD 79C973 controller, provides a standard 10BaseT and 100BaseTX network interface. The Ethernet controller features auto-negotiation for standard twisted-pair (10T/100TX) operation using a modified 10BaseT link integrity test pulse sequence. It automatically configures to match the speed of the connected hub without the need for jumper or software configuration.

The EPM-NET-100 module also provides a socketed DiskOnChip site for Flash File Systems, with nonvolatile solid state memory. The module features high reliability design and construction, along with environmental stress screening and functional testing.